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Thank you Central Irrigation for your comments. If I decide to replace the valves, do you have a couple of recommendations for me to look at? I've seen some good comments on the Irritrols and either the RainBird DV or PGA, but what would you suggest at $20 to $30 per valve for my max flow rate system at 3 gpm? Thanks.

I've installed many an Irritrol 2400 on dirty water well and lake systems and have few issues. The Rainbird DV series is also a good choice and has a flow control option. I would shy away from the PGA, as it also has a filtered diaphragm.

I would advise using 1" valves, as they are the standard size. 3/4" valves would work well also.

Edit: The Toro EZFlo is the exact same valve as the Irritrol 2400, but does offer a flow control option, at a premium price. Another option if you decide flow control is needed.

This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "Central Irrigation" (Apr 15th 2013, 4:22pm)

No, it does not add pressure to the spring. In fact it actually does the opposite. The flow control actually makes contact directly to the diaphragm, not through the spring. A flow control only limits how far a diaphragm can open, thus controlling how much water can can flow through the valve. There is a case that could be made that if using a flow control, the diaphragm would have less distance to travel in order to close. However, the diaphragm will only open as much as the flow dictates. So i guess i fail to see how a flow control would help.

Flow controls allow a system to be "optimized' in almost the same way your grandfather tuned the carburetor on his truck. With the valve open, you throttle down the flow control until you notice it is beginning to restrict the flow. Then you back out the control a half-turn. What this does is minimize the movement of the valve diaphragm. The less a valve diaphragm flexes, the longer it will last, and the more reliably it will perform.

This especially matters on systems with low flows. On a low-flow system, you might even leave the flow controls in a position where they are slightly restricting flow, because (for reasons involving hydraulics) valves so adjusted have more force helping them to close.

Looks like the Toro EZ Flo and the Irritrol 2400 take the exact same diaphragm, correct? Also, the Irritrol is listed with flow control as an option --- 2400 TF, with FNPT. My old valves are 1" so any new ones will be 1" as well. I may go with flow control only because my overall system was designed around my pitiful 3 gpm well output which is at the low end of all of the specs. It's been a challenge for it to keep up in the heat of Kansas summers but it will as long as all of the parts are working, and with a little creative scheduling.

No, it does not add pressure to the spring. In fact it actually does the opposite. The flow control actually makes contact directly to the diaphragm, not through the spring. A flow control only limits how far a diaphragm can open, thus controlling how much water can can flow through the valve. There is a case that could be made that if using a flow control, the diaphragm would have less distance to travel in order to close. However, the diaphragm will only open as much as the flow dictates. So i guess i fail to see how a flow control would help.

Flow controls allow a system to be "optimized' in almost the same way your grandfather tuned the carburetor on his truck. With the valve open, you throttle down the flow control until you notice it is beginning to restrict the flow. Then you back out the control a half-turn. What this does is minimize the movement of the valve diaphragm. The less a valve diaphragm flexes, the longer it will last, and the more reliably it will perform.

This especially matters on systems with low flows. On a low-flow system, you might even leave the flow controls in a position where they are slightly restricting flow, because (for reasons involving hydraulics) valves so adjusted have more force helping them to close.

Ha Ha! My 1975 Camaro had a carburetor too!
I can honestly say that I've not run into an instance where flow control was needed due to low flow conditions. And this includes drip zones.
Perhaps Boots is correct, and that is all that is needed. Maybe swapping out the SRV cap for a PGV flow control would help. Don't know if they are interchangeable, as I've never tried. Maybe trying it on a few problem valves would help. Doesn't hurt to try!

I would concur with Central in that the flow controls main function limits the opening movement of the diaphragm. This smaller opening creates a smaller flow as well as a small decrease in pressure downstream. The force on the upper part of the diaphragm is a function of the area only and has no bearing on the opening size of the of the diaphragm. ( pressure= force(lb) / area(in sq). That being said, some valves need more of a pressure loss through them to operate properly then others. and at 3gpm there is minimal pressure loss through most 1" valves. You will have to check the flow chart for this particular valve to see its operational requirements. So, a flow control may help in this situation in that it can create a greater pressure loss through it by turning the flow down. I would still take Centrals advice on the filtration and also the advice to add a main spin down 100 mesh filter.

I'm sold on the 100 mesh filter, still mulling which valve to go with. Easiest to do is put the PGV w/ flow control heads on the original SRV valve body, but I'm giving the Irritrol 2400's a close look. Thanks again to everyone for their input.

Took the easy way out ( this time ) and ordered PGV's. I intend to leave the old SRV valve bodies glued in and swap out the old SRV tops with PGV tops with flow control. Also ordered 100 mesh ss filter to install at the front of the run. If I have any problems ( beyond replacing a diaphragm here and there ) in a couple of years I'll cut them out and go with a different brand, either DV's or 2400's. Thanks for everyone's opinions. I'll check back in later and let you know how the spring start-up went.